Heebeet i



( o Model.)

H. I. GOULD.

HOOP SKIRT.

No. 290,677. Patented Dec. 25, 1883.

N PETERS. Phom-u ha nphor. Wunin mn. D. c.

Unirnn STATES Parana @rricn.

HERBERT I. GOULD, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

HOOP- SKlRT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No; 290,677, dated December 25, 1883.

Application filed August 1, 1883.

I do hereby declare'that the following specifi cation, taken in connection with the drawings furnished and forming a part of the same, is a clear, true, and complete description of my invention.

My said improvements relate to that class of hoop skirts which are provided with ex pansible or elastic fronts, or, in other words, such as are not peripherally limited by the hoops employed therein. So far as my knowledge extends, this class of skirts have always heretofore embodied a pair of more or less widely-separated vertical suspending tapes or hands at the front portion of the skirt, at each of which an end of each hoop or partial hoop terminates, and across the intervening space lateral elastic bands are employed, each being fastened at its ends to the two suspending tapes or hands. So far as relates to the mere connection of the two sides of the skirt at the front, the said elastic bands serve as elastic continuations of the partial or open hoops and while they assure a partially oval or circular outline in the hoops themselves it is well known that across the front portion of such skirts they are flat or straight, and when in use, as in walking, they sag inwardly, and thereby not only impair the symmetry of a dress, but they are rendered uncomfortable to the wearer.

The objects of my improvements are to obviate said objections, and to those ends I have, as I believe, for the first time combined with said elastic bands suitable supports or supporting -ribs, which are parallel with said bands, and, likethehoops at the other portions of the skirt, maintain the front portion thereof in substantially the same distended condition as the sides or rear portion. Said flexible ribs may be incorporated with the elastic bands, or both may be separately applied to the skirt, without departure from the main feature of my invention; but I prefer, for getting the best results, and with a view to economy in manufacture, to employ integral extensions of the hoops themselves.

After describing in detail the several illustrations of skirts embodying myimprovements,

(No model.)

the features deemed novel will be specified in the several claims hereunto annexed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of a skirt embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a lateral section thereof on line 1 Fig. 3 illustrates in two enlarged views the front of the skirt, embracing the vertical space occupied by the three upper hoops of the skirt, and with the skirt in its normal and in its laterally-expanded positions. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the front of the skirt, embracing the vertical space occupied by the three next lower hoops. Fig. 5 illustrates in two views a modification of the overlapping hoop ends shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 illustrates in three views a stiffening-rib embodied within an elastic band.

In referring to the hoops of the skirt, it is to be understood that they are not complete hoops, but are all cut adjacent to the front of the skirt, and have their two ends extended either to a point midway of the front section or nearly across it, so as to overlap each other.

It will be seen that the three upper hoops, a, a, and c are at each end extended nearly across the front, and have their ends attached to short straps b and b, which are normally located at opposite sides of said front closely adjacent to the vertical suspending bands or tapes 0,- also, that the three hoop-extensions on each side are respectively connected with the adjacent one of two vertical guide bands or tapes, (I d. In line with the middle hoop, a, and parallel with the extended ends of the hoops there are two elastic bands, e and a, side by side, and on these the short straps b and b respectively slide when the skirt is expanded, said straps having loops, as at 6 for causing them to maintain their proper relations with the elastic bands, and for maintaining the middle portion of the elastic bands in proper position the guide bands or tapes d d have loop-bands cl, as clearly indicated. It will be readily seen that when the elastic bands are not stretched the overlapping ends of these hoops will afford a flexible stiffeningsupport for the front portion of the skirt, substantially corresponding with the sides and rear portion thereof; and it is equally obvious that when said elastic bands are stretched the ends of the hoops are free to move laterally until the two straps I) and b are brought together, as illustrated in Fig. 3. This arrangement of elastic bands, straps, and hoops can be employed throughout the entire front of the skirt; but it is more particularly valuable 5 in connection with the upper series of hoops, so as to be adjacent to the knees of the wearer in sitting or walking. This overlapping feature can be provided for without the straps b .b, and with or without the guide bands or IO tapes (I d, if desired, as will be seen on reference to Fig. 5, wherein the overlapping ends of each hoop are looped to each other, as at.

f f, so that they can freely slide to and fro with reference to each other, the elastic bands I 5 6 serving to maintain them in their normal position, and to cause them to return thereto after said bands have been stretched, the loops f being sufficiently free to occasion but little friction. lhe several lower hoops, a do not overlap, but at their ends they are connected, respectively, to the guide bands or tapes d and d, as clearly indicated; and the elastic bands 6 are applied, as before described, so thatiwhen said bands are stretched the guide bands or tapes move laterally with the main suspending tapes or bands 0, but when the front of the skirt is in its normal condition the coincident ends of the hoops prevent undue inward sagging.

d is folded upon itself laterally with the hoops interposed, thus housing their ends, and the rivet-clasps g serve not only to unite the folds of the tape, but also to confine the hoop end in position.

In the skirt shown the upper hoops are more widely separated than those near the bottom, and while it is desirable that all of the hoops be extended, as shown, so as to support the entire elastic front, it is obvious that a portion of them can be terminated at the suspending bands or tapes 0 without materially affecting the results desired. The lower hoop may to good advantage be of somewhat heavier or stiff er material than the other but whether it be the same or different, it is desirable that it have a slightly set or fixed bend adjacent to the suspending-bands c, for preventing its ends from projecting unduly outward.

As hereinbefore indicated, it is deemed preferable by me that the stiffening-supports across To properly confine the ends of the hoops, each guide band or tape d the elastic front be integral with and actual extensions of the hoops; but in Fig. 6 I illustrate an elastic band, 6, which is woven with a central longitudinal open pocket at 6 within which a suitable support, h, is placed, said support being in turn loosely housed in a flexible flat tube, of cloth or paper, or other suitable material, which, being also loosely contained within the pocket of the elastic band, will enable the latter to freely stretch and contract, and also enable the support h and the tube to be freely movable longitudinally independently of each other, they being respectively connected to the suspending-bands c.

In lieu of elastic woven bands, small elastic rubber tubing can be employed, and the flexible stiffening-supports can be freely housed therein, whether the latter be separately attached at one end thereofto a suspending-tape, c, or whether it be an extension of a hoop. In this case it is obvious that the overlapping feature of the hoop ends may be readily embodied within one elastic tube, or by alternating, so that one hoop-extension from one side will occupy one tube and the next lower hoop extension will occupy the next lower tube, and so on. lVith such tubes an elastic covering fabric may be employed, thus forming hollow elastic bands.

The skirt illustrated by me contains the usual rearward extension, as for trails and panniers; but it is obvious that my improvements are equally applicable to the simpler types of skirts.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a hoop-skirt having an elastic front, the combination, substantially as hereinbefore described, of the elastic bands and stiffeningsupports parallel therewith, whereby said elastic front is supported against inward sagging, as set forth.

2. In a hoop-skirt having an elastic front, the combination of the elastic bands and the overlapping flexible stiffeningsupports, substantially as described.

HERBERT I. GOULD.

lVitnesses:

H. A. RANDALL, HOWARD E. Tnonrsox. 

